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Mariano Barbosa Jr., inset, allegedly set three fires at the Soho Grand (pictured) and five at the Yotel Hotel.

Updated at 9:06 AM EDT on Monday, Sep 23, 2013

A security worker is charged with setting eight fires in two Manhattan hotels where he worked, FDNY officials said.

Mariano Barbosa Jr., 30, allegedly set three fires between 2009 and 2010 in downtown's Soho Grand, where he was a security officer, and five fires between 2011 and this year in midtown's Yotel Hotel, where he was the director of security.

Officials said the fires were set in hallways, stairwells and in front of exit doors in order to block people from escaping and impede firefighter access. All of the fires were quickly brought under control, the FDNY said.

Information on a lawyer for Barbosa was not immediately available.

A spokeswoman for Yotel said the hotel was cooperating with the FDNY and NYPD and that the hotel was "deeply concerned by the allegations" against Barbosa.